So This Is Why Your Mouth Feels Sore After Eating Pineapple

Have you ever wondered why your mouth feels so strange after eating a couple cubes of pineapple? Your tongue gets itchy, your mouth feels sore…It’s really a high price to pay every time we feel like snacking on this delicious fruit.

Well, it appears that this “price” we pay is actually our body’s reaction to a mixture of enzymes known as “bromelain.” Essentially, bromelain—which also is used as an anti-inflammatory—digests the proteins around your mouth, which causes the surrounding tissue to become irritated. So, when you feel that weird feeling in your mouth, it’s actually the breakdown of proteins.

For the most part, this will only happen where the pineapple comes in direct contact with because once the bromelain is diluted with saliva—or mixed with stomach acid—the enzymes are overtaken. However, in the parts where your mouth does feel sore, it will only last for a couple of hours—or until your mouth can rebuild those proteins.

So, who’s ready for a pineapple sundae?